ROOMMATES 1

Kaye was still standing at the door, her right hand on her chest, trying to calm her beating heart. Her face shows confusion and fear of what was to come in her life.

Confusion because she didn't know she would get a male roommate and fear because it was a male. She did asked Ms. Harley if she knew someone who can rent the empty room in her apartment. She did not specify the gender only that someone must not invade her privacy and would not bother her. Who knows it would be a handsome?

She just realized that Ms. Harley told her something about someone moving to her place one time they met when she was coming home.

"Kaye, my darling girl, you will have a boardmate next week. I can guarantee that this person will not invade your privacy and is very kind. The rent will be divided equally between you two. The water bill...the electric bill..." she heard Ms. Harley telling her something about a new tenant but she was too occupied with her mother's health issue.

"Okay." was all she said though she didn't really understand what she was saying. Before coming home from work, she dropped by at the hospital where her mom was confined. Her dad called her saying that her mom was sent to the hospital due to heart attack.

When she saw her mom lying on her bed looking so frail and delicate, it broke her heart. Her mother always protected her and indulged her to whatever she wants to do in life.

"Dad, I brought some food. Please eat first." she placed her bag and the foods she brought on the table. She took a chair and sat beside her mother's bed.

"Thank you sweetie. I was worried to leave your mom alone so I haven't had breakfast yet. I'm glad you're here." her father took the spoon and fork and started opening the pre-packed food.

"Just let Auntie Sally manage the stores today. I will also take a leave to help you take care of mom."

"No. Don't do that or else your mom will kill me. You know that she doesn't want you to set aside things because of her. Just visit us sometime."

"But dad-"

"No buts." her father didn't allow any room for negotiation. "I'm capable of taking care of her and we still have the helper at home."

"Alright then. I will visit you this weekend and once my next training is over, I will ask for a vacation leave.  Please take care of yourself too, daddy. Make sure to eat on time." she reminded him again and again to make herself at ease. After a couple of hours, she left and went back to her apartment.

When she got back to the apartmeny complex and saw Ms. Harley, she was still anxious and scared of any mishap that could befall on her parents. She wasn't listening carefully on what her landlady was saying.

Kaye could only poke herself upon realizing her situation. If not because of wanting to save more money, she wouldn't want a rommate. She sighed helplessly and went to the kitchen to arrange the things she bought before taking a shower.

Her family was not rich or poor. When she was thirteen years old, her father started a business of convenience store which was small at first. In a span of two years, their first store expand and became a mini-supermarket you see in a mall. She would sometime worked there as a cashier during weekend or whenever she didn't have a class.

When she was sixteen, her father found a business partner and built a new store in city H which was three hours a way from home. Then he built the third one on a different city again when she was seventeen. Now, they have three flourishing stores before her father decided to stop and focus on his wife and daughter which made everyone happy.

When she was in university, she was self-studying business management while formally taking an education course. She really didn't know what to do with her life, no direction or path that she wanted, but her mom would always indulge her. Her mother would let her experience things or would  let her do whatever she wants until she would find something that could make her happy. Something worth doing.

"In the future, you don't have to tire yourself from work. We have three stores which accumulate millions of profit in a year. I built them for you so you will have enough financial support." her father said when he was taking a sip from his coffee while reading a book on his other hand.

"Ain't it too much, dad?" she asked, curiousity laced her voice, "I mean, three stores for me can last me ten lifetimes already. I don't need that much." she raised her head and looked at his father. She was sitting on the floor while reading a magazine on the coffee table. Her father was sitting on the couch across her and her mother was was beside her, making simple jewelries that she would sometime sell online - a hobby.

"Because you need them for you to help the children at the orphanage." her mother simply stated while trying to fix the lock of her DIY bracelet.

She made an 'Oh' sound since she didn't know what to say. After a while her father spoke, "We found out about the orphanage when you were still in university. You've been saving from your allowance we gave you weekly and would sometime sell your old clothes to raise funds. Am I happy that you grew up into a fine lady with a kind heart."

"So that is why there was a sudden increase of my allowance!" she exclaimed as he looked at her parents full of surprise. Her father just smiled at her while her mother was grinning, eyes full of mirth.

It became her hobby to save at least fifty percent of her income and to visit the orphanage with all the presents she could think of. It was the same orphanage that she stayed before her parents took her home.

Her parents would also send money over but she wanted to do something that really came from her which was the reason why she wanted a roommate.

Her apartment room costs ten thousand excluding the water and electric bill. It has a bathroom, two air-conditioned bedrooms and a kitchen with refrigerator. The living room is spacious and has four lounge chair. She was provided with a televesion but she only used it a couple of times.

She can afford paying the entire rental fee and all the bills but rather than paying for the empty room, she'd rather have someone occupy it and pay for it. She just  realized it now or maybe she just couldn't help feeling alone watching drama or movie on the TV by herself.

After taking a shower, she changed into her blue cotton pants and white turtleneck shirt. She dried her hair and tie it in a ponytail.

"I guess it's fine since he's blind?" she asked herself in a whisper. "Yes, that's fine. He won't see your secrets." agreed one side of her brain. "But you will be living with a man under the same roof! A man!" her other side of the brain was exasperated over the idea of a man living with her. 'Please brain stop arguing.' she thought to herself. 'Talking to myself feels like I'm going crazy'.

She frowned when she was about to pick up her keys, "I think talking to yourself makes you smart. That's what everybody says. Nevermind." she smiled to her internal debate, the she picked up her keys and phone.

She took another glance of her room to make sure everything is fine before going out. When she heard the door clicked, indicating it was successfully locked, Kaye pocketed her keys.

She was walking toward the apartment of Ms. Harley when she heard three tenants whispering and giggling.

"You guys have kissed?" asked one of the girls with a shock written on her face.

"Shhh. Lower your voice, it's embarrassing." the girl who was questioned indicated with her eyes that someone might hear which was her who was passing by.

Kaye only 'tch-ed' and continued walking. "Girls now a days. Spouting nonsense here and there. Is that something you should share? Shouldn't you keep it to yourself?" she looked horrified with her discoveries of how girls act in modern day society.

She fixed her clothes making sure nothing can be seen or exposed to the other party. She was about to ring the doorbell when Ms. Harley opened the door for her.

"I saw you on the monitor when I was trying to get something." Ms. Harley explained as she guide her inside. "Ivan is at the living room." she told her and for no reason her heart thuded. She remembered how the man gazed at her like looking into her soul but not really seeing anything.

"Let me help you, Ms. Harley." she followed the lady to her kitchen instead.